Lawsuits Scare Off Energy Contractor

MANCHESTER — The company selected last year to install energy- saving equipment in all town schools has decided to drop the project because of continuing litigation.

Officials from Honeywell Inc. told School Superintendent Eddie L. Davis this week that they were pulling out of the project, said Assistant Town Attorney John Sullivan. Sullivan said the company was concerned about the expense of pending litigation and the potential of an appeal.

The company's decision to withdraw comes two weeks after a New Britain Superior Court judge denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit from Barber-Colman Cosentino Inc. of East Granby, an unsuccessful bidder for the project awarded to Honeywell. Another lawsuit filed by the president of the local taxpayers' association was dismissed last year.

Honeywell had proposed installing new energy and lighting systems in all the schools at a cost of $4 million. School and town officials have said the improvements would pay for themselves through savings on energy and utilities.

At issue are charges raised by Barber-Colman and others that Honeywell received preferential treatment from the town. Barber- Colman alleges that Honeywell was given access to school buildings, school officials and information before other bidders.

School and town officials have insisted that no company received any unfair advantages and defended the bidding as proper. All firms had the same access to information and school buildings, school officials said.

A committee consisting of school system employees and local citizens, including former Mayor Theunis Werkhoven, selected the Honeywell proposal and submitted its recommendation to the school board.

School board Chairman Craig S. Lappen said, ``I'm very disappointed that we were not able to get this work done. It was blocked by what appears to have been an orchestrated effort on part of the Manchester Republican Party.'' He said Barber- Colman's attorney, Anthony Natale, is a member of the Republican town committee.

Republican Director Clifton Thompson, former GOP chairman who first raised concerns about the project in December 1996, said the party was not involved in the lawsuits.

``I think that's a ludicrous conclusion,'' Thompson said. ``He's looking at this as totally political, which it never was. I fought it because I felt it was wrong.''

Sullivan said that since Honeywell will not pursue the project, the litigation is moot.

But Natale said his clients are seeking monetary damages and should be awarded the contract as compensation for the flawed bidding process.

Lappen said it was unlikely the school board would award Barber- Colman the contract. The energy conservation and other work would become part of a proposed bond package that is expected to be on the November ballot, he said.